Have you opened your dishwasher recently to see an unwelcome cockroach hanging around your dishes? We won’t tell if you let out a bit of a scream, as those little pests can certainly jumpstart your heart, but we can tell you why they keep congregating in your dishwasher.
Cockroaches love the dark. They don’t have human eyes, so no light is necessary for them to thrive. In fact, that’s why you have probably seen these creatures scurrying under furniture or even into small cracks in your wall. The dark is a perfect habitat for cockroaches, and your dishwasher always has a little shade even when it’s open. Plus, there can be just enough room to hide if that little cockroach is smart.
Your dishwasher is naturally going to be a little damp. When people have cockroach problems, one of the first suggestions is to get rid of any possible source of standing water. However, with your dishwasher, it’s a bit of an unavoidable problem. If you have a drying mechanism it might save you, but that can mean an increase in your electricity bill.
Like any animal, cockroaches love to eat, and food scraps are their favorite. Cockroaches are infamous for loving low-hygiene areas with food residue. If you frequently leave your dishes in the dishwasher and wait for them to fill the machine, it’s almost like an amusement park for these little pests. Essentially, your dishwasher is the ideal cockroach home, but luckily you have plenty of options to get rid of these creatures.
Beyond the discomfort of finding an unwanted visitor like a cockroach in your dishwasher, there are some potential health factors to consider. For instance, cockroaches tend to carry a variety of bacteria, pathogens, and parasites on their bodies, which can cause contamination. Many are also allergic to roaches and may have allergic reactions due to the droppings or the skin that is shedding.
When you notice a cockroach problem in your dishwasher, it’s time to take action. Let’s go over a few steps that you can take to deal with the problem.
Be sure to wipe down any leftover food debris after you remove your dishes. Remove any food particles that might be trapped in the nooks and crannies.
The dishwasher filter is an easily overlooked part of the cleaning process, but is essential for cleaning any extra debris that may be caught. You may need to consult your dishwasher manual to find where it is on your specific device; however, we recommend adding this to leave no food source for cockroaches.
Once you have completed the other steps, run the machine empty with a high heat cycle.
Cockroaches can leave a residue of their own so discourage their return by removing the debris with a vacuum.
Combat® Bait Stations and Gels kill the infestation at the source. Once you lay the bait, the cockroaches will take it back to their homes, and you can say goodbye to any roach family members. Since cockroaches will rarely infest only one area of a home, it will be important to place these baits and gels throughout your home.
Dealing with cockroaches in your home is never fun, but there are ways to help prevent them.
- Clean your dishwasher regularly.
- Remove dishes from the dishwasher once they are clean.
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes open on countertops.
- Clean the kitchen area and remove spills that may have occurred while cooking.
Next time you see a cockroach, don’t panic. Get ready to do a little cleaning and set a few Combat® stations. You will have any possible infestation under control in no time.